Join us for SMU Community Day, Hail to the Chief Presidential Exhibit on July 20

Colonial America will come alive on the SMU campus July 20 at SMU Community Day, inspired by the on-campus exhibit of George Washington’s copy of the U.S. Constitution.

Kids can write with a quill pen, make a yarn toy or play Colonial games. A fife and drum corps and historical interpreters in costume will set the tone from 9 a.m. to noon on the Laura Bush Promenade west of the Fondren Library Center.

Visitors to Community Day will receive a 20 percent off coupon to the George W. Bush Presidential Center, valid July 20.

George Washington’s personal copy of the Acts of Congress, which includes the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and other legislation passed by the first session of Congress, will be displayed July 14-27 at SMU’s DeGolyer Library. The 106-page volume is emblazoned with Washington’s bookplate and includes his handwritten notes in the margins. The DeGolyer exhibit is sponsored by the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which opened May 1 on the SMU campus.

Washington’s document will be part of DeGolyer Library’s summer exhibit, “Hail to the Chief: American Presidential History in Word and Image,” July 14 – Oct. 4. The exhibit will include presidential political memorabilia such as campaign biographies, letters, posters, buttons, cartoons, inaugural medals, photographs and other artifacts, from George Washington to Barack Obama.

What:

SMU Community Day

Colonial crafts and games for kids

Colonial craft demonstrations by artists from Dallas Heritage Village

Historical interpretation by costumed members of the Plano chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution